An opinionated look at current events, culture and faith, since 2005 telling you what to think and why to think it about everything that really matters.

Saturday, February 25, 2006

Don Knotts Dead at 81

SWNID offers his condolences to his many friends who are devoted to the Andy Griffith Show as a second religion, for Don Knotts, creator of the inimitable Barney Fife, has died.

We are not as rabid about Mayberry as some, but we will still insist that Knotts's Fife was the funniest character in the history of television.

Our favorite scene was one where Barney and Andy were sitting on the front porch one evening after dinner, and Barney mentions that he bought his parents a new septic tank for their anniversary. Television seldom allows its actors the subtlety of that comic miniature.

Three's Company, Knotts's later vehicle, had no such subtlety. While it paid Knotts's bills at the time, it is best forgotten now. We pledge not to mention it in this blog again.

4 comments:

While Don Knotts played one of the greatest characters ever to grace the television screen, I would still think some honorable mention goes to another recently departed actor, Darren McGavin. While most remember him as the dad on 'The Christmas Story', I will fondly remember him for his work in 'Kolchak: The Night Stalker' t.v. series from the early 70's. The show, though short lived, was long on influence including being a major inspiration for Chris Carter and his show, the X-Files. From what I understand, the abominable recent re-make of Night Stalker was deservedly very short lived. The original Kolchak, as played by McGavin, was a crusty reporter taken seriously by very few, but, in the end, was seldom wrong (sort of like someone else we know).

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